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Trends come in cycles. It’s apparent in everything from fashion to interior design to art and lifestyle movements. They do come about as reactions to past trends and ways of living, but many trends are simply recycled versions of what came before. Seasoned designers understand this cycle and use it to their advantage. This is why art auctions are so valuable in the design world.

What’s Old Becomes New Again

Many trends hearken back to past decades for inspiration. Interior designers know how these trends come about and in many cases can even predict them. They additionally understand the fundamental aspects of classic trends that repeat themselves over the years. These aspects include functionality, simplicity, and balance. When pieces from history resurface at auction with some combination of these attributes, they will look good well into the future in addition to right now. Seasoned interior designers can spot these hallmarks of classic design from a mile away.

Art Auctions Offer the Best of Old Trends Making a Comeback

Classic furniture and decor will never go out of style. These are crafted from sturdy, fine materials like wood, stone, and metal, and have simple lines. If they do have details, they are elegant and not over-the-top. Auctions are a treasure chest for finding items like these, ones that will look good in any home. One of the reasons for this is that people tend to keep what’s timeless, and so an item is handed from person to person and lives a long life before eventually making its way onto an auction block.

However, trendy pieces are also hallmarks at an auction. Consider the mid-century modern trend, which finds its roots in the 1950s and 60s. New pieces are being manufactured and sold in modern stores that exactly mirror pieces from 60 years ago. Go to an auction, however, and one can find original mid-century modern furniture made in the era that birthed it.

Good Designers Respect the Past

No décor was created in a vacuum. All design springs from inspiration from other sources. Good interior designers are well aware of this fact and use it to their advantage. They have respect for original pieces from past eras that are in style again, and they understand how past trends can morph into something new.

Art Auctions are one of the best places to find where trends start, or where inspiration for new trends is born in the first place. This format specializes in the sale of the unique, the historic, the valuable, and the special. At auction, what is old and has potentially lost its value for one person transforms into something new and full of value for someone else. In this vein, good interior designers are able to see the potential in objects, art, furniture, and the like that perhaps have not made it back onto the trend radar. In these instances, a new trend might be in the wings.

Keyword: art auctions

Topic: Seasoned designers are versed in the value of where current trends come from

When it comes to art auctions, you want to learn more about art before you even go to one. One genre of art that is hot right now is Russian art. There are a number of great artists and individual pieces to explore to help you see more about the overall style associated with this kind of art. Once you have a basic understanding of some of the best modern pieces and artists in the Russian art world, it will make it easier to find the best pieces.

Vladimir Donatovitch Orlovskii “Harvesting” 1882

Exploring Some of the Most Popular Artists

First and foremost, there are a few artists you want to know about right away and these include:

All of these artists have an array of different styles, so it is easy to find one that creates work that best fits your tastes. Whether you prefer art that portrays the human form or you are looking for something that depicts various parts of nature, there are a number of different modern Russian artists to choose from. Make sure that you explore the artists and some of their most popular pieces to learn more about their style and the various subjects that they use in their work.

Looking at Modern Russian Paintings That Are Popular

There is an array of Russian paintings that are popular. All of these are created by a variety of different artists and the subjects vary greatly. All of these tend to catch the eyes of both new and old art lovers alike. These paintings are a great place to start when you are learning more about art from this country. Some popular options when it comes to various paintings created by modern Russian artists includes:

-Summer by Alexey Chernigin

-Provincial Casanova by Stanislav Plutenko

-The Gypsy by Nikolai Biokhin

-Autumn by Dmitri Annenkov

-Olive Ground by Arush Votsmush

-Four Ages of Man by Mikhail Golubev

Other Great Modern Russian Art Options

Just like other types of art, you will find that paintings are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Russian art types. You can find things, such as sculptures, jewelry and even textiles and clothing. There are also art options that are also functional.

You can see that there is a lot to know concerning Russian art, but now you have some general knowledge concerning the topic. Make sure to read as much as you can to stay current concerning Russian art. This helps you to be successful when you attend art auctions.

Loft looking a little bare? Furnishings by world-renowned dealer Charles & Charles will now be sold exclusively at Michaan’s Auctions. Michaan’s has been selected as the only venue to handle the liquidation of Charles & Charles remaining inventory, as the firm is closing their showroom doors after 40 years. This auction collection will offer many excellent buying opportunities, as estimates will be mere fractions of Charles & Charles original retail prices.

Cal King walnut veneer and brass hardware bed.

English country sheesham dining refectory table.

Upholstered armchair.

Brushed chrome adjustable desk lamp.

Ostrich print.

Solid walnut and cast iron planter.

For more information on this exciting auction series, Charles & Charles inventory to be offered, as well as assistance with placing a bid, please call (510) 740-0220 ext. 0, e-mail info@michaans.com or visit us on the web at www.michaans.com.

The Pritikin Museum, a private, not-for-profit institution located on Chenery Street, is one of the largest private estates in the city of San Francisco. The Pritikin Museum at Chenery House’s art collection was recently estimated to be valued at over $50 million, accounting for a mishmash of different periods, styles and curiosities. Michaan’s Inspiring Interiors auction of April 8, 2016 highlights three excellent Beniamino Bufano sculptures from the Pritikin consignment, kicking off offerings stemming from the institution’s collection. The animal depictions, streamlined, stylized and elegant, include the stone Mole (lot 2300, $10,000-15,000), the carved marble Owl (lot 2298, $10,000-15,000) and bronze Partridge (lot 2299, $8,000-12,000).

Mole (lot 2300, $10,000-15,000)

Owl (lot 2298, $10,000-15,000)

Partridge (lot 2299, $8,000-12,000)

Select Asian works of art, collectibles and fine art from the Pritikin consignment will also be made available in Michaan’s estate auction of April the 9th, one day after the Inspiring Interiors sale. Additional Pritikin lots will also be sold in Michaan’s May estate auction, with a William Trego oil painting titled Fort Haskell 1865 ($20,000-25,000) debuting in the June fine sale as well. The illustrated auction catalogs will be posted online at www.michaans.com when they become available. Previews for the Inspiring Interiors auction will be held on April the 2nd, 3rd and the 8th, the day of sale. Previews for the April estate auction will be held on the 2nd, 3rd, 8th and 9th, the day of sale. For general information please call (510) 740-0220 ext. 0 or e-mail info@michaans.com. Michaan’s Auctions is located at 2751 Todd Street, Alameda, CA 94501.

Naomi Lindstrom (1924-2014) was a collector of the purest sense. A longtime flight attendant for Pan Am, she traveled the world rubbing elbows with sheiks and presidents, all the while collecting what she loved along the way. Her fifty years of collecting became a personal journal of sorts, a testament to a life of adventure, intellect and visual curiosity. Michaan’s Auctions is proud to present these objects on March 7, 2016, chronicling the love and life of Ms. Naomi Lindstrom, expressed in treasures found from around the globe.

What has been described as the most significant collection of world beads in the United States, the bulk of the auction comprises international and ancient pieces from Naomi’s prized bead accumulation in over 290 lots. Beads composing necklaces and other curiosities at sale are from over fifty noted origins, spanning a dizzying world list ranging America to Africa, Germany to Java and Mexico to Morocco to name a few. Virtually all are of her design, while remaining true to cultural heritage. Some beautiful picks from the collection:

Lot 4364: Tibetan Coral & Gilded Metal Necklace, $20,000-30,000.

Lot 4376: Central Asian Agate Bead Necklace, $14,000-18,000.

Lot 4282: Pre-Columbian Tairona Bead Necklace, $4,000-6,000.

Lot 4340: Chinese White Jade Bead Necklace, $2,000-4,000.

Lot 4426: Ancient Luristani Persian Gold Necklace, $2,000-4,000.

For more information on the Naomi Lindstrom Collection auction as well as future Lindstrom collection pieces to be offered in upcoming estate sales, please call (510) 740-0220 ext. 0 or e-mail info@michaans.com. The illustrated auction catalog will be posted online at www.michaans.com when it becomes available. Previews will be held on the 5th, 6th and 7th, the day of sale. Michaan’s Auctions is located at 2751 Todd Street, Alameda, CA 94501.

It’s time to show off! Michaan’s December fine sale season brings to the showroom floor some of the most outstanding property presented all year. Exciting offerings of jewelry, fine art, furnishings and decorative arts will be made available on December the 11th, with a dedicated Fine Asian Works of Art auction on December the 14th. So, what do you have to look forward to? By the looks of these department highlights, quite a lot…

At Michaan’s appraisal event on August 5, 2015, unexpected luxury walked through the door in the form of an authentic Hermès black crocodile Kelly bag. Brought in by a private Tiburon consignor, the piece showed all the earmarks of an original, further solidified by the accompaniment of Hermès packaging as well as an official Hermès of Paris refurbishment receipt dated to July 9, 2015. Hermès aficionados know such a receipt is a golden ticket so to speak, as the manufacturer will reject performing a service on any bag that is not an authentic Hermès.

Time to loosen the purse strings for this purse! The Hermès 32 cm black crocodile Kelly bag will be sold in Michaan’s estate auction of October 10, 2015 at an estimate of $17,000-20,000. For more information on this auction feature, please call Ms. Rhonda Harness at (510) 227-2525 or e-mail at rhonda@michaans.com.

The month of June brings two fine sales to Michaan’s auction room floor. The first will be held on Friday the 19th in a Fine Art, Furniture, Decorative Arts and Jewelry sale. Feast your eyes on a selected sale highlight from each department…

That’s not all folks. On Monday, June 22, 2015 is the Fine Asian Works of Art auction. The approximate 230 lot sale includes vibrant and exceptional property in the forms of porcelains, jades, furniture, corals, artworks, decorative objects, scrolls, bronzes and textiles.

For more information on Michaan’s June fine auctions please call (510) 740-0220 ext. 0 or e-mail info@michaans.com. The illustrated auction catalogs will be posted online at www.michaans.com when they become available. Michaan’s Auctions is located at 2751 Todd Street, Alameda, CA 94501.